Impacting INDIVIDUALS
Influencing systems

Characterised by renewed hope, developed confidence and improved skills, the programmes that we offer give people the chance to grow, expand their horizons, and become agents of change in their own community. We focus on empowering and enhancing the lives of those people most isolated and vulnerable, building their confidence and helping them to learn new skills, so that they may fully live their lives and become a part of their community.

What We Do

SW!TCH

SW!TCH draws on LifeLine’s 15 years’ experience of working with young people through our award-winning VIP Mentoring scheme. Today’s SW!TCH programmes bring solutions to young people that are in danger of becoming involved in serious youth violence or have poor mental health.

The LifeLine School

Our independent school allows students with disrupted education to catch up with their peers in less than ten months. We combine traditional academic studies with life skills and one-to-one mentoring in order to give each student the support they need to thrive.

Little Learners

Located in Elm Park and Ilford, our nurseries and pre-schools provide a warm and stimulating environment, with fun and engaging activities that help children to learn and grow.And with our innovative Tapestry app, you can see photos and updates about your child’s activities each day.

Programmes for Adults

Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham

Part of the national Healthwatch network, Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham acts as a champion for people in their local community who use health and care services. Their role is to listen to what people have to say about their local services, and share this feedback with the providers of services so they can improve and better meet the needs of the community.

Who We Are

LifeLine Projects was founded in 2000 by a group of volunteers in East London who saw a need in their local community. Realising that they could be part of the solution, they began working with isolated and marginalised women. Since then, we’ve grown from a small organisation with just two part-time members of staff, to one of the larger community-based social enterprises in the capital. Over the years, we’ve worked with numerous organisations to deliver many public-sector-funded programmes, and we’ve received several awards recognising the fruits of our programmes and been short-listed for many more.

Nathan

Chief Executive

Daniel

National Executive Director of FaithAction

Joe

Director of Finance and Operations

Meet the rest of the LifeLine family...

Recent Updates

Support LifeLine with purchases at Co-op

LifeLine Projects 17/02/2020

We're pleased to have been selected to receive sponsorship through Co-op's Local Community Fund for the third year in a row. The fund allows Co-op members to nominate a local cause to receive a donation of 1% of what they spend on selected Co-op products and services. In 2019, the fund gave £17m to over 4,000 local causes. If you're a regular user of Co-op, we'd love it if you'd consider supporting LifeLine through the fund! Already a Co-op member? Just log into your Co-op account and you'll be able to choose your preferred cause. Not a Co-op member yet?…

A call to outer-London boroughs: wake up to the danger of serious youth violence!

Nathan Singleton 22/01/2020

We've all seen the newspaper articles. The shock story about another young person whose life has been brought to an untimely end. At LifeLine, we've had to come to terms with the news that some of the young people on our own programmes have died. It's hard news to hear. And it's equally as hard to talk to a school who doesn't want to hear the message - that some of their students are in danger of becoming involved. Serious youth violence, as reported by the media, has focused on cities - London in particular. And inner-city schools have had…

SW!TCH Futures: From primary to secondary

Elspeth Paisley 22/01/2020

With the reduction of preventative programmes (including the decline of Children’s Centres), schools increasingly find that they are unable to provide effective support for students before they reach the point of being excluded. It's not a surprise, therefore, that exclusions are rising! In our work with vulnerable young people we often see that the struggle begins at the point of transition between primary and secondary school. The goal of LifeLine's latest programme SW!TCH Futures, is to help students to build resilience in preparation for the transition, thus changing the trajectory that their life might otherwise take. Prevention is such…

Ask the Expert: Teaching in Alternative Education

Kirsty Morris 22/01/2020

Having previously worked in two mainstream schools in Redbridge and Havering, I came to LifeLine with a supply of resources, a decent amount of teaching experience, and a skill-set that had already seen me as Head of Year and as Second in Charge of an English Department in a special measures school. I was excited to start at LifeLine School because I really didn’t know what to expect, and I liked the challenge and surprise that it might bring. I felt like, professionally, I was equipped to give it a go. Throughout my entire time here, I've found myself having…

Triangulating intel – the crucial ingredient in combating serious youth violence

Nathan Singleton 18/12/2019

Last month, tragically, a teenager was stabbed (and died) while attending a knife awareness course. The event was shocking, and raised questions across the sector about how to best safeguard those who are invited to attend such courses. In our serious youth violence prevention programme SW!TCH Lives (and indeed all of our programmes), we place great emphasis on building relationship through long-term mentoring. This is the best way to get to know the individuals along with who their "ops" (opposition) and associates are. Attempting to discover this information from cold is very difficult; young people are far less inclined to talk honestly, fully, and openly with someone they don't know. We should also note that information changes rapidly and that's why a relational, rather than information-gathering, approach is essential.